My wife and I are 92 years old. Last July we determined it was time to go into senior living but…read morestill live independently. There was no doubt that Merrill Gardens offered exactly what we needed. While our living is totally independent, We have care available whenever we need it. The people are fabulous. We found immediate friendship in every aspect. The employees and the residents made us feel right at home. The dining room is unbelievable. We can select from a large menu. We can eat anytime of the day we choose. The food is of the highest quality. On the main floor is a large living room where we all gather for events. Entertainment is provided often. And it is entertainment of the highest quality. We were extremely apprehensive last July before we made the move. But the apprehension is totally gone. We love this place. We are truly at home.

I went to check this place out for my mom and was very impressed. It is clean and friendly. It had…read morebeen recommended to me by a real estate agent, whose husband is a fireman and knows all the different facilities around. She told me that he had seen them under duress and the Staff still responds very well.

Best care I could ever have expected for my Mom. She was in the Skilled Nursing section for a few…read moreweeks before she passed. Everyone was kind and the staff to resident ratio was superb.

My mother was at Franke Tobey Jones, first in an apartment, then assisted living and finally the…read morenursing home part of the facility. She enjoyed going for her daily walks participating in classes. She developed a deep friendship with one of the other residents. Staff were kind to her. The beginning of the tragic turmoil began during her transfer to the HCC. She was shocked. She was excluded from having any part in decision making for the HCC. When I took her to see her new room she sat down and cried, "Please don't let them put me here". I told the nurse, but they went forth with placing her in the HCC against her will. FTJ has a history of not disclosing that the nursing home (HCC) is far more restrictive and that the resident may not need this level of medical care. In the age bracket of my mother, residents are transferred to nursing homes, in order to access nursing home insurance. Through rapid transfer, isolation, immobility and restricting communication, my mother lost her level of functioning rapidly into the parameters of the insurance. The transfer to HCC, was over $10,000 per month. My mother was sent to live in a constricted small room along a dark hallway. When she looked out her windows she saw parked cars right in front of her room. After placement in the HCC, FTJ could then rent out the beautiful assisted living unit she had lived in with views of Mt. Rainier over the fountain. One of the administrators informed me that residents are often transferred before they need that level of care. A direct care provider told me how residents are placed with no contact with friends or family for two weeks. When I came to visit and support my mother two days after her move, I was told to leave immediately or they would call the 'authorities'. I asked to speak to the CEO, who was a compassionate man. I was told he was not available and I must leave. There was no consideration for our mother's needs for support from the family. She later told me she thought she would never get to see me again in her lifetime. Another staff member told me how residents are transferred and cry for a few days. She went on to say that staff give them lots of attention and gradually they adapt. After transferring from assisted living to the HCC I observed that residents were no longer looking up and engaging with others, like they did before. From my perspective the move against my mother's will, isolation, restraint to wheelchair is 'kidnapping'. I never would have believed before that FTJ would do this to her. My mother grieved, with her loss of freedom, choice and respect. She had been a social activist for equal rights of minorities in Tacoma and president of the YWCA. She trusted the medical system, as a professional in the field herself. How ironic that a citizen who fought for equal rights would have these taken from her when she became an elder. My mother had been promised with the move that she would get to eat with her friends. Never again. She was no longer allowed to get up and walk on her own with her walker. She was placed in a transport wheelchair, with footrests. My mother was restrained through taking away her means of mobility, unplugging her telephone, not allowing her to eat or visit with her friends in assisted living. My mother told me, "I am imprisoned. I have no more rights. I cannot speak at a deep level. I must be superficial in my conversation or they will confine me even more." "When I die I want you to be free. To go where you are loved and never have to come back". The new Nursing Supervisor, Jenny Dooley, RN, had been my mother's Nursing Care Coordinator from Sound Options. She put further restrictions in place. My mother could no longer eat with anyone from outside FTJ staff, including healthcare professionals specializing in this field. My mother wanted to go out with her sister to eat and go with myself to her beach cabin. This right was withdrawn, even with accommodations including adaptive equipment and care providers. As a retired ARNP, who was a rehabilitation disability specialist, it was so hard to simply stand back and watch it all happen. FTJ lacked the knowledge and provided unsafe behaviors in eating and drinking, toileting, transfers, and working collaboratively with family. When the struggle impaired my health I had to give up on trying to support my mother's duration of life. I needed to adapt her quality of life needs to simply visitation in her room, and never again to go visit family or even go to her own home. I even needed to get an attorney to quote the Washington state laws in order to be with my mother as much as SHE wanted 24/7 for her last month of life. FTJ had requested no more than 2 hours a day, which was devastating for my mother. FTJ forgets how one's life expectancy is significantly reduced when opportunity to be with loved ones is restricted. My mother felt trapped and at FTJ's mercy until she passed. Then she was free.

When searching for an Assisted Living environment for my Mom I had started looking 2 years before…read moreit was time. When I met Marykay Duran and toured Harbour Place in Gig Harbour my search was done and Mom had a wonderful home in an Assisted Living facility. What makes the difference at Harbor Place is the staff. They care. And they give quality care to the residents. Top Tier Assisted Living

My in-laws lived here for three years. The facility is beautiful. The staff were fantastic and…read moreaccommodated all their needs. I would strongly recommend this facility.

This used to be a great facility, but it was taken over by corporate a couple years ago with…read moreexpected results. MUCH worse food that's also high starch, low protein with unflavored, frozen boiled vegetables. Greatly increased costs. Fewer services. I can no longer recommend it.

I have worked at the firs for 10 years in August. It has been one of the most rewarding jobs.read more

We have lived here for 6 years, and it's the best decision we have ever made. After 75 years of…read morecooking, I wanted a place where someone else did the cooking, and the food is great. Amenities are superb, staff couldn't be better, housekeeping comes weekly, activities galore, but most important to us, it is so friendly and we have developed very close friendships here. Jan Henry, Lew Meyer

My daughter and I looked at this apartment on June of 2025. Ther were some issues with the kitchen,…read morepanels for patio, and shrubs in front of my bedroom. I spent at least $2500.00 just to make comfortable for our senior age. The issues that we talked about with the salesman were noted but not not taking care off. I do appreciate the ease to care of the needs of my dog. But I have issues the response is much to slow.

My grandmother lived here for several years before she passed away. Yes, this place is beautiful…read moreand well manicured. My grandmother the last time I saw her was very thirsty and hungry- the one staff member in the building she was in was busy with other residents. My grandmother has one sippy cup of water placed out of her reach, when she was unable to sit up and reach it. The only food she had available was a few bags of empty chocolate kisses. I was shocked. Why was my grandmother so incredibly thirsty that she was literally gulping down water? And hungry? For a place that costs over 11k per month, this is unacceptable. The individual employees are nice but sadly, overworked and understaffed. My grandmother was put on hospice a few days later for her "refusal to eat". She was also heavily medicated because attending to her was becoming difficult, at least according to that staff member I talked to. This is all unacceptable and my sweet grandmother deserved better.

My mother moved here last August with my dad who passed away after in early September. I was so…read morerelieved to find a facility that truly treated them as well as we family members tried to do. They helped with everything, much we didn't even know we needed. Since then mom has thrived under their care. KG's staff is always warm, friendly and listen well to little things we want or need, yet they are always professional.

I have been an employee at Chateau Valley Center for just about three years. The entire time I have…read morebeen here I have been so impressed by the level of care shown for residents. Our entire nursing and care staff are AMAZING. You can see the genuine love for their jobs and the residents. Raena, our Community Relations Director, truly cares about the people that she brings in. She is thorough and makes sure that a prospective resident will be the right fit at our community. If she believes that we cannot offer them something they need, she will help them find another place to go instead. That shows miles of integrity, to me. Our residents touch my life on a daily basis. I can come in to work with an empty cup and leave overflowing. You just feel good when you walk in the doors. There is something in the air here. I would be honored to have a family member, or loved one, live here any day. This is truly a magical place.

I am one of three siblings that was looking for a loving place for our dad, who has Alzheimers. We…read morefound the Chateau by accident and I liked it immediately. It felt like a home. I was impressed by the staff's quick responses to emails and their patience with us as we floundered around not knowing what was going to be best for dad. Shout out to Jodi and Ollie, who took us on many re-tours and answered all of our questions. I especially wanted dad in the memory care at Chateau. It seemed like the right place for him. We were ready to move him in and our lives took a shart turn and he did not move in. But, our experience with the staff and their concern for what was best for dad needed to be acknowledged. Thank you!

Established care with Dr. Kelby Hempel, pulmonologist. Both my husband and I were extremely…read moreimpressed with him! The office lobby was decorated nicely for Christmas. I am fully confidant that my pulmonary needs will be managed fully by Dr. Kempel and we both highly recommend him.

What an emergency amazing hospital you have top of care quality. The office experience…read moreprofessionals are top notch. They care quality is amazing being an emergency medical center and the type of car you receive is the best to the best centrally located in Tacoma in the hilltop area, but this is a great trauma hospital. I would feel very confident having surgeries here breathing a child or even having a day surgery

Tried to get a hold of someone regarding my mom's care. But either no one answered the phone and…read moreeven though I left messages no calls back

First off the care staff is fantastic. they are worked too much and there are too few of them. But…read morehave always taken care of my parents. The kitchen is a joke. A facility like this should not run out the dinner special. Today both were out before dinner was over. they often run out of stuff. bread? butter? tarter sauce? Who wants fish and chips with out tarter or any thing. They show all this fancy food on the website but that is a joke also. The chef can not figure out how to cook for this type of place. This kitchen things is on going. Residents should never be turned away when they show up just before 6. Stupid.